Taliban Rule Fractures Women's Underground Economy by Province

Afghan women barred from secondary school in 2021 and university in 2022 now run home-based businesses—sewing, food production, crafts. But survival depends on location. Crisis Group's March 2026 fieldwork shows Taliban enforcement varies drastically across provinces: some regions permit women to operate freely; others force closures. Local commanders override central directives, fragmenting policy. Without legal status or access to formal credit, these enterprises remain economically constrained.